How to Upscale 1080p to 4K [2025 Guide]

Introduction

Upscaling 1080p to 4K can provide a significant visual boost, offering crisper details and a more immersive viewing experience, especially on large screens and modern 4K TVs. Many creators ask the same question: "Can you upscale 1080p to 4K and actually improve quality?"

The short answer is yes. With the right 1080p-to-4K upscaler and proper export settings, you can noticeably enhance your video's clarity and make it look much better on 4K displays. In this guide, you'll learn:

• What it really means to upscale 1080p to 4K
• Two methods about how to upscale 1080p to 4K
• How to upscale 1080p to 4K in Premiere Pro
• How to use AI-powered tools such as UniFab and other popular upscalers
• Free ways to upscale video from 1080p to 4K

Whether you're preparing videos for YouTube, TV, or a large projector screen, this step-by-step guide will help you choose the best method for your workflow.

Why Upscale 1080p to 4K?

In recent years, 4K resolution has become the new standard for high-quality video. Upscaling 1080p to 4K can provide a significant visual boost, offering crisper details and a more immersive viewing experience, especially on large screens. But the question remains: can you upscale 1080p to 4K? The answer is yes, with the help of a 1080p to 4K upscaler, you can enhance your video quality and make it suitable for 4K displays.

Not every project needs 4K, but in many scenarios, upscaling 1080p to 4K is worth the effort.

• More pixels, more perceived detail：4K UHD (3840 × 2160) has roughly four times the pixel count of 1080p (1920 × 1080). When you upscale correctly, edges look cleaner, textures appear sharper, and fine details such as hair, grass, or small text become easier to read on 4K screens.
• Better experience on large displays: On a 55-inch or 65-inch 4K TV, native 1080p can sometimes look soft or slightly blurry. A well-upscaled 4K version can deliver a more professional and “cinematic” look.
• Future-proofing your content: 4K is becoming the default for streaming platforms, smart TVs, and monitors. If you want your content to stay relevant for years, delivering a 4K-friendly master file helps a lot.
• More flexibility in editing: A 4K timeline lets you crop or stabilize footage with less visible quality loss compared to working in 1080p, especially if your footage has been upscaled with a smart AI model.

Important: Upscaling can significantly improve the perceived quality of your 1080p video on 4K devices, but it still cannot fully match true native 4K that was originally shot at that resolution.

What is Upscaling 1080p to 4K?

Upscaling 1080p to 4K is the process of increasing the resolution of a 1080p video to 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels), which is four times the resolution of 1080p. This enhancement results in sharper, more detailed visuals, even if the original content was not filmed in 4K.

A 1080p upscaler uses advanced algorithms, including AI-based technology, to add extra pixels and detail where none originally existed. 1080p upscaled to 4K doesn't quite match the native 4K video quality, but it can significantly improve the viewing experience. Whether you're using a 4K upscaler online or a desktop tool, the right software can make a noticeable difference.

Important Considerations

• Video upscaling from 1080p to 4K is unable to generate new details that didn't exist in the original footage. As a result, the upscaled 4K video will never match the quality of content that was originally filmed in 4K resolution.
• The performance of the upscaling process differs based on the original video content. Improvements are most noticeable in aspects like the sharpness of text and the clarity of details in dark areas.
• After upscaling 1080p to 4K, issues like reduced color saturation or unbalanced contrast may occur. It's necessary to fine-tune the color levels and gamma values to ensure the color consistency with the original footage, preventing color casts from affecting the viewing experience.
• When multiple video clips need processing, prioritize tools that support batch upscaling (such as UniFab's batch processing feature). Additionally, preview 10-30 second segments of each clip before processing the entire video to confirm the results, which helps reduce repeated rework.
• 4K video files are typically 3-5 times larger in size than 1080p ones. It's essential to check in advance whether the storage devices (such as hard drives or cloud storage) have sufficient capacity. Meanwhile, consider the bandwidth requirements for transmission to avoid failed transfers due to excessively large file sizes.

How to Upscale 1080p to 4K?

Upscaling a 1080p video to 4K involves increasing its resolution, typically by creating a 4K project or sequence in video editing software or by using specialized AI upscaling tools. These solutions intelligently scale your footage to fit 4K dimensions, then allow you to enhance visual quality further through sharpening, noise reduction, and color grading before exporting the final high-resolution file.

Method 1: Using Video Editing Software

Professional video editing programs like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve allow you to manually upscale videos with fine control. Here's a typical workflow:
1. Create a New 4K Project: Start a new project and set the sequence or timeline resolution to 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels).
2. Import Your 1080p Footage: Bring your 1080p video files into the project media bin.
3. Place Footage on the 4K Timeline: Drag the 1080p clip onto the 4K timeline, automatically scaling it to fit. If prompted with a resolution mismatch warning, select options like “keep existing settings” or “fit to frame size.”
4. Enhance the Video: Apply effects such as sharpening and noise reduction to improve clarity and reduce fuzziness. You can also do color correction or grading to achieve a natural, vibrant look.
5. Export the 4K Video: Finally, export your project ensuring the export settings match 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) and choose an appropriate codec and bitrate for quality retention.
For example, using DaVinci Resolve's Super Scale upscaling filter before export can significantly improve detail reconstruction.

Method 2: Using AI Upscaling Software

If you don’t want to deal with complex timelines or manual scaling, AI video upscaling software is often the easiest way to upscale video from 1080p to 4K. AI-powered video upscalers streamline the upscaling process by leveraging advanced algorithms that enhance details intelligently. Popular options include UniFab Video Upscaler AI, CapCut AI, and Topaz Video AI.
1. Open the AI Upscaler: Launch your chosen AI upscaling software on your Windows or Mac system.
2. Import Your 1080p Video: Load the video file you want to upscale.
3. Set Upscale Parameters: Select 4K or 2x upscale settings. Some tools allow additional adjustments for denoise, sharpness, and artifact reduction.
4. Start the Upscaling Process: Begin processing; the AI will add details, reduce noise, and enhance textures to deliver superior visual quality.
5. Review and Save: Preview the upscaled video output to verify quality before exporting or saving the final 4K file.
Among these, UniFab Video Upscaler AI stands out for its balance of affordable pricing, powerful AI models tailored to different content types, customizable parameters, and batch processing capability. It's an ideal solution for both casual users and professionals looking for high-quality 4K upscaling.

Tool Comparison: Popular 1080p-to-4K Upscalers

How to Upscale 1080p to 4K Premiere Pro

1. Create a 4K Sequence

• Open Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Go to File → New → Sequence.
• In the preset list, choose a 4K preset, such as 3840 × 2160, 25fps or similar.
• Name your sequence (for example, “1080p_to_4K_Upscale”) and click OK.

2. Import and Place Your 1080p Footage

• Import your 1080p video into the Project panel.
• Drag the 1080p clip onto the 4K sequence timeline.
• If Premiere Pro shows a warning about sequence settings not matching, choose “Keep existing settings” so the timeline stays 4K.

3. Scale the 1080p Clip to Fit the 4K Frame

You have two main options:

• Option A – Set to Frame Size (recommended)

  • Right-click your clip in the timeline.
  • Choose “Set to Frame Size”.
  • Premiere Pro will scale the clip to fit the 4K frame proportionally.

• Option B – Manual scaling

  • Select the clip, go to Effect Controls → Motion → Scale.
  • Increase the Scale value until the image fills the 4K frame (around 200% when upscaling 1080p to 4K).
  • Adjust the position if needed to avoid cropping important parts.

4. Enhance the Image Quality (Optional but Recommended)

To avoid a flat or soft look after scaling:

• Open the Lumetri Color panel.
• Under the Creative or Detail area, lightly increase Sharpen.
• Optionally, apply slight noise reduction if your source is noisy.
• Avoid overly aggressive sharpening, as it can introduce halos and artefacts.

If you also use After Effects, you can right-click your clip in Premiere Pro, choose “Replace with After Effects Composition”, and apply effects such as “Detail-Preserving Upscale” for more advanced control.

5. Export in 4K

• Go to File → Export → Media.
• Under Video, set the Frame Size to 3840 × 2160 (4K).
• Choose a suitable codec (e.g., H.264 or HEVC) and set a high but reasonable bitrate (for example, 50–100 Mbps for high-quality 4K H.264).
• Enable “Render at Maximum Depth” and “Use Maximum Render Quality”.
• Click Export.

Free Ways to Upscale 1080p to 4K

Searching for “upscale 1080p to 4k free”? These methods work:
Free Editors:
✔ DaVinci Resolve (Super Scale in a 4K timeline)
✔ HitFilm Express
Freemium AI Tools:
✔ UniFab (30-days free trial for full features)
✔ CapCut Desktop (completely free AI tool)

Conclusion

Upscaling 1080p to 4K is a practical way to enhance video quality, especially for viewers using 4K TVs, monitors, or projectors. Whether you prefer professional editing software or a specialized AI upscaler, choosing the right method and fine-tuning your footage ensures the best possible result. For users seeking the most efficient balance of quality, automation, and customization, AI tools like UniFab Video Upscaler AI provide an excellent solution for achieving superior 4K output with minimal effort.

FAQs about Upscaling Video from 1080p to 4k

Can a 1080p video be upscaled to 4K?

Yes. A 1080p video can be upscaled to 4K using video editors (like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve) or AI upscaling tools. Upscaling increases the resolution from 1920×1080 to 3840×2160 by adding new pixels based on algorithms or AI models.

Does 1080p upscaled to 4K look better?

Usually yes, but not as good as native 4K. Upscaled 1080p can look sharper and cleaner on 4K screens, especially with AI upscaling, but it cannot fully match the detail of real native 4K footage.

How to upscale 1080p to 4K for free?

You can upscale 1080p to 4K for free using:

• DaVinci Resolve (Free) — use Super Scale in a 4K timeline
• CapCut Desktop — free 4K AI upscaling
• Free trials of AI upscalers (e.g., UniFab, VideoProc, etc.)

These provide no-cost or limited-free export options.

Can I upscale my 1080p monitor to 4K?

No. A 1080p monitor cannot display true 4K resolution because its physical pixels are fixed. You can upscale video content to 4K, but the monitor will still show it at 1080p.

Is it worth upscaling from 1080p to 4K?

Yes—when viewed on 4K displays. Upscaling improves perceived sharpness, reduces softness, and enhances detail, especially for large TVs or YouTube uploads. It may not be worth it for mobile viewing or very low-quality source footage.